We did research to find all the dog toys made in the USA, whether it’s for your puppy or full-grown boy. Check out our findings below and some sourcing tips for finding the country of origin.
Complete List of Dog Toy Brands Made in the USA
West Paw makes some awesome dog tows and products. Many dog toys made in China are poor quality and will wear out super fast, but the toys at West Paw are made to last. The Zisc is one of our favorite dog toys made in the USA. Mike’s dog, Deuce, has one and loves it!
These toys are made to be unsusceptible to tearing, and because they’re unstuffed, you don’t need to worry about your dog accidentally eating stuffing once it’s torn open. West Paw toys also come with a squeaker and are better for smaller dogs.
Tough chewers and teething puppies can go through several toys pretty quickly if you don’t find the right ones. Goughnuts toys are designed to be nearly indestructible. They have a simple design coming in rubber rings, sticks, and balls that are tough to destroy for even the most destructible dogs. First designed in 2006, these toys are made by real mechanical engineers. They also have a reliable guarantee – if your dog chews through to the red inner ring inside, they will replace the toy for free. Goughnuts toys float as well and make for great fetching toys.
These hefty dog toys are perfect for large breeds, but some smaller pups may not be able to easily carry it to their favorite spot.
Cycle Dog is a great company based in Oregon that is making lots of pet products right here in the USA. Not all of their toys are made here, but their plush toys are super popular and made domestically. Just watch out for their balls – they used to be made in the USA, but aren’t anymore.
Planet Dog has lots of great toys made in the USA, including their popular rubber balls. These toys are made from award-winning Orbee-Tuff material, which is 100% recyclable and made to be really durable. The company produces all sorts of dog toys and products, all of which are 100% made in the USA.
Benebone makes durable, nylon chew toys for dogs from simple ingredients and real flavors that are all sourced from US suppliers. They have a bunch of fun shapes and sizes, so you can definitely find one that your dog loves.
Stationary dog toys work well for being set up in the backyard, keeping your dog occupied, and having fun. With the Tether Tug, you must plant it in your yard, and your dog can pull on the nylon rope attached to an extremely flexible and durable fiberglass pole. The Tether Tug comes in a few different sizes, depending on the weight of your dog. It’s recommended you buy one size up from your dog’s weight class, which will help ensure that the Tether Tug is really sturdy when playing with it. They even have an indoor version too!
Auburn Leathercrafters has a few leather and rope toys made in the USA. They’ve been around since 1950 and also make collars, leashes, and other products for dogs and cats.
Handmade in Idaho, Chews on Belay rope toys are pretty simple but loved by dogs. They’re made of 100% recycled climbing rope and tennis balls, which are entirely safe for your dog to chew on. Chews on Belay rope toys are ideal for pups who love to play tug of war and work well for fetching as well. The climbing rope and tennis balls are also durable if your dog is a big chewer or you have a teething puppy.
If you’re looking for a non-rope tugging toy option, West Paw makes a tug toy called the Zogoflex, also made in the USA.
Some larger dog toy manufacturers can sometimes use materials that aren’t great for your dog’s health (we did extensive research to make sure all our findings are 100% safe). Purrfect Play is very transparent about their materials and manufacturing processes which is super important to ensure the health of your furry friend.
They produce durable and safe dog toys from hemp, cotton, and wool all of which are non-toxic and made in the USA!
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Dog Toys
How to Find Dog Toys Made In the USA
Instead of just giving you a list of American made dog toys, we want to help you learn how to find the best options on your own. This guide takes a look at the dog toy manufacturing scene, including where materials come from, what labels mean, and tips for spotting great USA made dog toy brands. Let’s kick things off by explaining what “made in the USA” really means and how to make sense of it.
What Does “Made In The USA” Mean?
First, let’s dive into what it means to be “made in the USA.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) protects the label “made in the USA,” and to use that label, a product must be “all or virtually all” made in the United States. This means that all the significant parts and processing must take place in the U.S., and the finished product must be assembled in the U.S. too.
For more information on this topic, check out our complete made-in-the-USA label guide.
Materials
Many American-made dog toys are made of rubber, plastic, and fabric. These materials can be sourced all over the world, so it’s hard to find a fully American-made product. A good place to start researching a dog toy that is genuinely made in the USA is to research the raw materials. Find out where these raw materials come from and how big of a part the United States plays in manufacturing these materials.
Rubber
Most dog toys are made of rubber. Your furry friend loves to chew, and nothing can be better than rubber regarding durability. Rubber is a versatile material that can make a wide range of products, including dog toys.
The United States produces around 32 million metric tons of rubbers each year. Although that may seem like a lot, the reality is that the United States is not even the top 10 producers of this material. Countries like Thailand and Indonesia are much bigger producers of rubber, and most rubber in the world comes from these two countries.
Since the U.S. doesn’t produce much rubber compared to worldwide rubber production, it’s worth double-checking the country of origin regarding rubber in dog toys.
The two main types of rubber used in the manufacture of dog toys are natural rubber and synthetic rubber.
Natural rubber is more elastic than synthetic rubber and is also less likely to tear. However, it is not as durable as synthetic rubber and may not withstand heavy chewing.
Synthetic rubber is made from petroleum products. It is more durable but is not as elastic as natural rubber. It is also important to note that both types of rubber can be recycled.
Plastic
Plastic is another popular material that is used to make dog toys. It is often chosen for its durability and safety. The United States produces around 20% of the world’s plastic, behind just China and Europe. It is certainly not insignificant, so finding plastic made in the USA is easier than it is with many other materials.
One of the main advantages of plastic is that it is very durable and can withstand heavy chewing. Some plastics may contain harmful chemicals that can be toxic to your dog. Therefore, choosing a toy made from food-grade plastic or BPA-free plastic is crucial.
Fabric
Fabric is often used to make soft dog toys. It is available in various colors, patterns, and textures. Cotton, wool, and fleece are the most common fabric used to make dog toys. The United States is one of the top 3 producers of textiles. However, it heavily lags behind China, which produces more than half of the world’s textiles. So, take care in researching where the fabric of a particular dog toy is sourced.
Labeling
The United States has legislation that helps to identify the country of origin when shopping. Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US Code states that any imported product must be labeled as such. To use this particular label, “all or virtually all” of the product must be made in the United States.
To make a “made in USA” claim, businesses need to be able to show that:
- The final assembly of the product takes place in the United States;
- The product contains no (or negligible) foreign content; and
- All significant parts and processing that go into the product are of U.S. origin.
Although labeling seems like an easy way to determine whether or not a product is made in the USA, the reality can be different. The FTC does not police the “made in the USA” label as well as it should, so doing your own research to determine where a product is sourced and manufactured can go a long way.
On top of that, many companies use confusing jargon to trick consumers into thinking a certain product is made in the U.S. For example, some companies use words in their labels like “manufactured” and “designed” or phrases like “made in America.”
It is also worth mentioning that although companies must state the country of origin on their products’ packaging or labeling, this is not the case for any online materials.
Other Tips
Researching the material and labeling is a great starting point for finding dog toys made in the USA, but here are some additional tips.
Look Online
Check out the company’s website. If their products are truly made in the USA, they will not be shy about this fact. A product made in the USA is a huge selling point, so you’ll see it mentioned on their website – either on their “About Us” page or in the product descriptions.
Don’t Be Fooled By American Flags
Just because there is an American flag on a product does not mean that the product is actually made in the United States.
Contact Them
This may seem like a simple solution, but if you aren’t sure about the country of origin of a particular dog toy, just call the company. Their customer service team will be able to answer your questions about where their products are made.
Dog Toys Not Made in the USA
When doing our research, we came across several big dog toy brands that are not making their products in the USA. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve included the full list below as well as where their toys are being made.
- Kong – Made in the USA using globally-sourced materials.
- Jolly Pets – Most are made in the USA (they have a “Made in the USA” page, but products that don’t have this don’t state where they’re made.
- Hear Doggy – Made in China.
- Outward Hound – Made in China, designed in the USA (with a selection of chew products and treats made in the USA).
- Fable the Game – Made in China, designed in the USA.
- Nylabone – Made in the USA and China (Made in the USA products have the American flag on the package).
- Multipet – Made in China with the exception of the Catnip Garden Toy.
- Starmark -Made in the USA and China (states where on each product page).
- Mammoth – Made in the USA and Mexico (states where on the product page or Amazon page).
- Smartpetlove- Made in China.
